Front Page  »  

SLO County employee charged with 12 counts of embezzlement

February 22, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office investigators arrested a county employee at his home in Atascadero on Wednesday morning for embezzling more than $100,000.

Prosecutors filed 12 felony embezzlement charges against former information technology supervisor Norman Hibble, 54. Over 7 years, Hibble allegedly used a county credit card to purchase personal items estimated at more than $100,000.

Last year, the auditor-controllers office opened an internal investigation centered around the misuse of county funds for personal purchases.

On Nov. 13, district attorney’s office investigators served search warrants at Hibble’s home and office. On the same day, county administrators placed Hibble on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations. Management fired Hibble on Jan. 5.

“The discovery of this abuse of County funds is difficult for County employees who have
dedicated their professional careers to ensure public trust.” Said Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-
Tax Collector Jim Hamilton. “Despite stringent policies and procedures around the use of
County credit cards, we must do better.  Since the discovery an ongoing in-depth review of
policies and procedures is being conducted to ensure proper use of credit cards across all
County departments. Our commitment with the review is to strengthen oversight and internal
controls to ensure the appropriate use public funds for all County expenditures.”

The county plans to seek restitution if Hibble is convicted, including severing his pension.

Hibble’s arraignment is scheduled for Friday.

 

 


Loading...
Subjects:     
Related:


10 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

latest info is $250,000. My employer caught a $7 questionable charge, not my fault, charge on a hotel bill.


2

This guy has been earning a six figure salary for years with great pension and health benefits and completely blew it: https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?q=Norman+hibble


2

He will get the full remainder of his pension after restitution, and this will be millions. But this is the tip of the iceberg. If every County employee showed up and worked it could be done with half the staff, no deficit, but still on the hook for fat pensions.


1

The burning question: Was there any previous history of abuse? Was his behavior overlooked even though he had a history of abuse?


4

The point being that it sure seems like there is a culture of fiscal abuse in this county department (an independent audit should be demanded).


Now, how could this happen? It’s not hard to guess when you have the most dysfunctional Board of Supervisors in the state of California. When you have the absence of ethical leadership, you should expect a system that allows fraud, by an already bad employee, for nearly a decade. One follows the other.


So you bring a retired, respected CAO who launches several initiatives, including a system of transparent budgeting and a proven model for lean government and then you abruptly terminate his contract. Could it be that there is more to the story, perhaps something he was uncovering? Just saying…


9

This may be painfullyobvious…but Mr. Nilon if you had put this much passion and effort into your position as CAO, you may have retained it.


2

0-1 but I enjoy a good guessing game.


0

People at the IWMA stole more and were never charged, John Wallace stole more from the SCSD and only got a slap on the wrist, Charlie Grace stole more and was never charged, even child sexual harasser Jeff Brandow enjoyed a paid vacation during the investigation and so far no charges so we shouldn’t hold our breath waiting for DA Dan Dows office to actually hold this person really accountable.


20

Question?

How does this man have no oversight on CC purchases?

Something doesn’t sound right Lucy.

Karen,

Get em girl!


30

Our taxes at work.


22